Book end for shelves

ABSTRACT

A book end for use with open end shelves and formed from a single strip of material in a generally triangular shape with a U-shaped base. The upper leg of the U is the base of the triangle. A support arm has one end pivotally attached to the apex of the triangle and the other end engaging the upper surface of the shelf remote from the base of the triangle. The support arm is pivotable to both sides of the plane containing the triangle.

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Book END FOR sHELvEs This invention relates to a book end for shelves,and particularly to a book end for use with open end shelves,

Prior book ends were essentially positioned on the upper surface of abook shelf abutting a cover of a book. Normally the book end wasrelatively heavy and had a large base, so as to be stable and avoidmoving or tipping under the pressure of a row of books, or when a bookleaned on the book end thereby creating a moment of force towards thebook end. Oftentimes shelves have no ends and are supported on a wall bystandards and brackets. The open shelves create a problem for supportingbooks along the shelf, since there are no end walls to hold and supportthe row of books such as in conventional bookcases. Various devices havebeen contrived, which, to varying degrees of success, permittedsupporting the books on such an open shelf. However, these devices haveusually not maintained the books vertically under the pressure of a rowof books, large books, or if the books leaned towards the book end. Bookends having a U-shaped base used clamping pressure on the shelf` tomaintain the book end in a vertical position. While this type of bookend was satisfactory when used with a row containing a few books, it wasgenerally unstable and unsatisfactory for a long row of books or heavybooks. Furthermore, many of these book ends depended on weight and tookup a relatively large area of the shelf in order to support the row ofbooks, and hence was of limited use, when used with a row of booksoccupying most of a shelf, with only a small amount ofshelf space at theends,

Therefore, it is an objective of the present invention to provide animproved book end, which can positively support a large row of books onan open end shelfwithout tipping.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide apositivemcting book end, which takes up a minimal amount of space on ashelf.

A further objective is to provide a generally planar book cnd, which isconstructed, so that it will not damage surfaces on which it is placedand is capable of adjusting to various thicknesses of shelves.

Another objective is to provide a book end, which is of light weight andthin, although of sturdy construction.

Another objective is to provide a book end, which is inexpensive toconstruct, is economically manufactured from uniform size metal wire,plastic rod, or the like, and is durable, and esthetically pleasing tothe eye.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide one book end,which is interchangeable on either side of a row of books. i

Various other objects and advantages of the present invention will bereadily apparent to those skilled in the art from the followingdescription of the drawings, which illustrate one em bodiment of thisinvention:

FIG. l is a perspective view of the device showing a pair of book endsmade in accordance with the present invention supporting a row of bookson a shelf;

FlG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. l; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3 3 of FlG. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a book end embodying theprinciples ofthe present invention is generally indicated by the numeral10. While a pair of book ends are shown mounted on a shelf l2 supportingbooks 14, only one need be used, such as when a shelf 12 is mounted on awall and abutting another wall at right angles, and hence only one willbe described.

Book end l0 has a body portion 16 and a U-shaped base 20. While bodyportion 16 is shown generally triangular in shape, it could assume othergeometric configurations. Body portion 16 has a leg 18 engaging theupper surface of shelf l2, which leg is common to base 20. Base 20 has alower leg 22 and a leg 23 interconnecting legs 18 and 22. Base 20extends transversely to the axis of shelf 12 with lower leg 22 engagingthe un- -lows bar 24 to abut the undersurface of shelf l2. Pivotallymounted at the apex 28 of triangular portion 16 is a support arm orbrac'e 30. Advantageously, apex 28 is bent downwardly or depressed, toform a centering groove for a looped end 32 of support arm 30. Loopedend 32 is freely pivotable about depressed apex portion 28, so as to befreely positioned on opposite sides of a plane containing body portion16. Support arm 30 is of a length greater than the height of triangle16, so that the free end of arm 30 engages the upper surface of shelf 12remote from leg 18 of base 20. Advantageously, the free end of arm 30 iscovered or provided with a plastic tip 33, so as not to mar or scratchthe surface of shelf 12. Preferably cover 33 should frictionally engageshelf l2 to reduce slipping.

As seen best in FIG. 3, body portion 16 and base 20 are generally planarand formed of a single strip of material, bent to proper shape with oneend welded or attached to base 20, such as at 34, to strengthen theunit. This strip is preferably of a uniform-size steel rod or wire,which is suitable for electroplating. Similarly, arms 24 and 30 areformed of the same size of rod.

In operation, book end 10 is mounted on shelf 12 by slipping base 20transversely on shelf 12, abutting one end of a book 14. Leg 22 is urgedagainst the undersurface of shelf 12. Arm 30 is pivoted away from book14 so that its free end rests on the upper surface of shelf 12,positively supporting book end 10, regardless of the counterclockwisemoment exerted by books 14. Crossarm 24 prevents the book end fromfalling over, but is not sufficient alone to prevent tipping in responseto any large force or moment against book end l0.

While the crossarm 24 was shown mounted on leg 22 intermediate of itsends, so as to require bending of leg 22, it can be mounted at the tipof leg 22, so as to allow leg 22 to be straight, The bend in apex 28maintains support arm centered.

The device ofthe present invention provides a thin, and versatile bookend, which is sturdy to support even the heaviest of books or a largerow of books on a shelf, and which takes up only a minimum of space on ashelf and is inexpensive to construct, therefore making possible a lowpurchase price. The rods are preferably made of metal, but may be madeof plastic and allows base 20 to be used with shelves of variousthicknesses. Although the invention has been shown and described in whatis conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment,departures may be made by those skilled in the art.

Whatl claim is:

l. A book end for a shelf comprising a body portion to support a book onsaid shelf, a generally U-shaped base having an upper leg and a lowerleg adapted to receive said shelf therebetween, said body portion beinggenerally triangular in shape with the base of the triangle being theupper leg of said U-shaped base and being adapted to engage the uppersurface of said shelf and the apex of the triangle being remote from theupper surface of said shelf, and a support arm pivotally mounted at oneend to the apex ofthe triangle for freely pivoting to opposite sidesofthe body portion, said other end of said support arm adapted to engagethe upper surface of said shelf spaced from said base upper leg, saidsupport arm being pivotable transversely to the plane containing saidbody portion.

2. A book end as of claim 1, wherein said body portion and said base isformed from a single strip of material and is generally coplanar.

3. A book end of claim 2, wherein said strip of material is a uniformpiece of metal rod.

4. A book end as in claim l, wherein the apex of the triangle has adepression for centering said support arm.

5. A book end as in claim l, further including a nonmarring cover on theend of the support arm.

6. A book end for a shelf, comprising a body portion to support a bookon said shelf, a generally U-shaped base having an upper leg and a lowerleg adapted to receive said shelf therebetween, the upper leg of thebase being common to the body portion and adapted to engage the uppersurface of said shelf. a crossarm mounted adjacent the free end of thelower leg of said U-shaped base and transverse thereto, said lower legadjacent said crossarm being downwardly bent a distant equal to thethickness of the crossarm, whereby said crossarm abuts the undersurfaceof said shelf, and a support arm pivotally mounted at one end to Saidbody portion with the other end adapted to engage the upper surface ofsaid shelf spaced from said base upper leg, said support arm beingpivotable transversely to the plane containing said body portion.

7. A book end as in claim 6, wherein said body portion and said base areformed from a singular strip of material and are generally coplanar.

8. A book end as in claim 6, wherein said strip of material is a uniformpiece of metal rod.

9. A book end as in claim 1, wherein said support arm has an eye at thepivoting end.

10. A book end as in claim 6, wherein said body and said base arecoplanar.

1. A book end for A shelf comprising a body portion to support a book onsaid shelf, a generally U-shaped base having an upper leg and a lowerleg adapted to receive said shelf therebetween, said body portion beinggenerally triangular in shape with the base of the triangle being theupper leg of said U-shaped base and being adapted to engage the uppersurface of said shelf and the apex of the triangle being remote from theupper surface of said shelf, and a support arm pivotally mounted at oneend to the apex of the triangle for freely pivoting to opposite sides ofthe body portion, said other end of said support arm adapted to engagethe upper surface of said shelf spaced from said base upper leg, saidsupport arm being pivotable transversely to the plane containing saidbody portion.
 2. A book end as of claim 1, wherein said body portion andsaid base is formed from a single strip of material and is generallycoplanar.
 3. A book end of claim 2, wherein said strip of material is auniform piece of metal rod.
 4. A book end as in claim 1, wherein theapex of the triangle has a depression for centering said support arm. 5.A book end as in claim 1, further including a nonmarring cover on theend of the support arm.
 6. A book end for a shelf, comprising a bodyportion to support a book on said shelf, a generally U-shaped basehaving an upper leg and a lower leg adapted to receive said shelftherebetween, the upper leg of the base being common to the body portionand adapted to engage the upper surface of said shelf, a crossarmmounted adjacent the free end of the lower leg of said U-shaped base andtransverse thereto, said lower leg adjacent said crossarm beingdownwardly bent a distant equal to the thickness of the crossarm,whereby said crossarm abuts the undersurface of said shelf, and asupport arm pivotally mounted at one end to said body portion with theother end adapted to engage the upper surface of said shelf spaced fromsaid base upper leg, said support arm being pivotable transversely tothe plane containing said body portion.
 7. A book end as in claim 6,wherein said body portion and said base are formed from a singular stripof material and are generally coplanar.
 8. A book end as in claim 6,wherein said strip of material is a uniform piece of metal rod.
 9. Abook end as in claim 1, wherein said support arm has an eye at thepivoting end.
 10. A book end as in claim 6, wherein said body and saidbase are coplanar.